Quick info on 1st Lt. Philip C. Dryden
Date of Enlistment: 17 June 1942
Place of Enlistment: Newark, New Jersey
ASN 12093249
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION: Pvt., Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION: AC, Air Corps
Residence State: New Jersey
Residence County: Somerset
Source of Army Personnel: Civil Life
Nativity: Dist of Columbia
Race & Citizenship: White, Citizen
Education: 3 years of college
Civilian Occupation: Actors & Actresses
Marital Status: Single, without dependants
Component of the Army: Reserves - exclusive of Regular Army Reserve and Officers of the Officers Reserve Corps on active duty
under the Thomason Act (Officers and Enlisted Men -- O.R.C. and E.R.C., and Nurses-Reserve Status)
Philip C. Dryden
ID: O-812956
Entered the Service From: New Jersey
Rank: First Lieutenant
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 599th Bomber Squadron, 397th Bomber Group, Medium
Died: Wednesday, January 03, 1945
Buried at: Netherlands American Cemetery
Location: Margraten, Netherlands
Plot: H Row: 8 Grave: 14
Awards: Air Medal with 11 Gold Stars, Purple Heart
Dryden`s B-26 Was shot down 23 Dec 1944
Plane Data: Serial Number: 43 - 34159
Type: B - 26G - 1
Nickname: Hun
Destination: Eller RR. Bridge, Germany
Mission: Operational
MACR ( Missing Air Crew Report ) Number: 11897
Crew List
Pilot: Dryden, Philip C. 1st Lt. 0 - 812956
Co-Pilot: Stang, Robert F. 2nd Lt. 0 - 823730
Bombardier: Cummings, Benjamin B. F/O T - 5736
Engineer-Gunner: Ahlgren, Elwood R. T/Sgt. 6148071
Radio-Gunner: Kish, Stephen J. T/Sgt. 13060624
Arm-Gunner: Lefever, Paul W. Sgt 13022121
http://www.b26.com/p...oup_history.htm
DECEMBER INSTALLMENT
UNIT HISTORY OF HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT, 397TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (M)
For The Period 1 December -- 31 December 1944.
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1. For the month of December, the 397th Bombardment Group remained at A-72, Mons En Chaussee, France. The usual operational activity for the month was limited considerably by weather, with the Germans taking advantage of this change in climate to launch a strong counter-offensive in the 12th Army Group Sector. The attack began the 16th of December, under the protective cover of low fog and conditions unsuitable for our air forces to oppose the drive. However, on the 23rd of December, medium bombardment aircraft were out in strength, striking important communication zones directly behind the German onslaught. On this day, the mission to the ELLER RR Bridge in Germany, the group suffered its first major losses by enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft. After the turn off from target, on course to home base, approximately 25 single engine fighters attacked our formation. The group’s records show a loss of eight B-26’s to enemy aircraft encounters and two B-26’s to heavy flak. Our gunners hit back for a total tally of four enemy aircraft destroyed, three enemy aircraft probably destroyed, and eight enemy aircraft damaged. This total does not include enemy aircraft presumably destroyed or damaged by the ten missing bombers.
An interesting side note, in the historical report of the 397th BG for the month of March 1945, it shows the group bombed Siegborg on March 6 1945.
